How to Understand Garlic Nutrition

Allium sativum is the scientific name for garlic, a member of the onion family that also includes chives, leeks and shallots. A raw garlic bulb has a pungent odor that mellows considerably when you cook it. Garlic has culinary value as a spice and garnish, especially in Italian cuisine. Garlic extract is also available as a dietary supplement and is commercially available in pill form.

Things You'll Need

• Nutrition label for garlic

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Instructions

• 1

  Determine the serving size for garlic. FatSecret.com provides nutritional information on garlic with no added ingredients. Garlic is a natural product so its nutritional content doesn't depend on the brand of garlic. The serving size is 1 oz. of raw garlic.

• 2

  Examine the calorie content for garlic. A serving of garlic contains a total of 42 calories. Carbohydrates contribute 34 calories, protein provides 7 calories and fat accounts for the remaining calorie. Garlic provides 2.1 percent of the daily value for calories in each serving, based on a daily diet of 2,000 calories.

• 3

  Study the carbohydrate content of garlic. Garlic contains a total of 9.4 grams of carbohydrates, or about 3 percent of the daily value for total carbohydrates. This includes 0.6 grams of dietary fiber, which is about 2 percent of the daily value for dietary fiber. A serving of garlic also has 0.3 grams of simple sugar.

• 4

  Inspect the fat and protein information on garlic. A serving of garlic has 0.14 grams of fat, which is less than 1 percent of the daily value for total fat. This total includes 0.025 grams of saturated fat, which is less than 1 percent of the daily value for saturated fat. Garlic has no cholesterol or trans fat. A serving of garlic also has 1.8 grams of protein, which is 3.6 percent of the daily value for protein.

• 5

  Observe the information on vitamins and minerals in garlic. Garlic contains 5 mg of sodium per serving, which is less than 1 percent of the daily value for sodium. It also has 114 mg of potassium, or 2.4 percent of the daily value for potassium. Additional nutrients in a serving of garlic include 15 percent of the daily value for vitamin C, 5 percent of the daily value for calcium and 3 percent of the daily value for iron.